Troop 24 will be participating in the DesPlaines Valley Council/Voyageur Trace District Camporee to be held October 23-25 at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion. The scouts will leave about 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 23, and return to Riverside Presbyterian Church at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 25. The theme of the camporee will be conservation. On Saturday morning there will be education sessions presented by park staff and staff from the Shedd Aquarium. After lunch the troops will be assigned to conservation projects within the Park. Every attempt will be made to structure the education sessions and project to meet requirements of any and all relevant merit badges and conservation awards. The cost is $20 per scout (which includes the Voyageur Trace fee of $6 as well as the cost of food). The permission slip and money (check made out to Troop 24) are due by Thursday, October 8. Permission slips may be turned in at a troop meeting, or given to Dawn Gmitro.

RPC has recently had the gym floor refinished, at a considerable cost. They are requesting that street shoes not be worn in the gym–only white-soled gym shoes. Since the scouts don’t have an opportunity to change shoes, we are requesting their cooperation in protecting the new surface by removing their shoes at the door.

Order forms for the 2009 Troop 24 Trails End popcorn sale will be distributed at the September 24 troop meeting. At the October 1 meeting, this year’s “Popcorn Kernel”, Mrs. Renee Ricchio, will give a kickoff presentation for the campaign.  Scouts may begin taking orders as soon as they have their forms.